Kamwaura Revisited

Last Sunday, Wangoe, her daughter Anne, Ann Jeroge, James, Cynthia and I went and spent the day with our church family in Kamwarua. It is always a joy being with them and they are always so glad to see us. God is really gathering some wonderful people together in this little farming community to express His love.

The family has grown in size and the number of children coming has doubled since last month. The church is truly becoming a spiritual colony of God’s Love. Every time we visit, their growth in Christ  becomes more evident.

When we gathered together in our little meeting place, Wangoe and Ann Jeroge from Nakuru led out in the praise and worship with their lively drumming.

And as we began praising the Lord in song and dance, my wife Cynthia began showing everyone the Hebrew dance step called ‘The Grapevine’. Wangoe’s daughter picked it up quickly.

The praise was so wonderful we decided to go outside that all of us might sing and dance to the heavens. It was very uplifting.

As we re-entered our meeting place the children sang a special song and the youth (teenagers) presented us with a dance they had created that week. Because we don’t have access to electricity, they danced to the music coming from a cell phone.

After we finished singing everyone brought their offerings and placed them in the basket… that is... all except this little bugger who was caught trying to take some out!

People began sharing what the Lord was doing among them and giving thanks for all His blessings. One shared that after so long, they now knew they were part of a real church.

After James and I shared a short word of encouragement with them, we told them that God was pouring the same spirit of love on them that He was pouring on us in Nakuru.

Then our overseer for Kamwarua fellowship, Karanja, invited us all to a big meal at his house. Some of the ladies had been cooking all morning long.

The meal was great but even better was what one young man told us as we were about to leave. He said… “God bless you for coming and showing us such a great light. Please don’t ever leave us until we understand fully the will of God for our lives”.

Leaving after such a wonderful day is always hard, but we will be revisiting them again in two weeks. Pray for the progress of these dedicated disciples laboring to reveal the Body of Christ to their community.

Much love ... The StoneHouse Family

StoneHouse Ministries International with St. Mary's Hospital Free Clinic Day!

This past Saturday StoneHouse Ministries International was honored to host several doctors and nurses from St. Mary’s Hospital and seven other visiting American nurses in providing a free medical clinic in the impoverished areas of Ponda Mali and Rhonda. The clinic was held in the facilities of StoneHouse Academy. The fifty three pictures (chosen out of five hundred) tell the story… so I will keep the dialogue short.

The St. Mary’s Bus arrived at StoneHouse Academy shortly after the tent went up early that beautiful Saturday morning.

As soon as the staff disembarked they were met by our neighborhood’s curious and ever present children.

Michelle, the wonderful lady in charge of this labor of love, ran everything like a well oiled machine. Her administrative skills are only surpassed by her friendly and pleasant demeanor.

There were many of our StoneHouse family members who came to volunteer their help that day, and as soon as we instructed them what to do they happily complied. That’s when the community began to arrive and line up for the free services.

There were all sorts of people. From the very old …

To the very young.

After being registered and screened for the type of help they needed, the patients were ushered into one of the seven school rooms for their examination. 

There were plenty of mothers with infants… Expectant ones…

Troubled ones…

Concerned ones…

And those that were just happy their children were going to get quality professional care!

Even some of the babies seemed excited! 

There were children…

Children with children…

And, sadly, children we could not examine without parents or guardians being present.

When lunch time rolled around we got to mingle with the nurses and make some new friends. Everyone wanted to know what we were doing in the Ponda Mali slums.

Some of our missionary friends, Jess and his wife Janet showed the Jesus Film throughout the day with other missionary friends Al, Missy and their daughters Victoria and Sophia helping with the children.

After lunch, activity in the streets increased, bringing more and more people in for examinations.

Throughout the day these wonderful doctors, nurses and their assistants, gave compassionate and professional care to those who otherwise could never have afforded it. These professionals encountered everything from ulcers to serious infectious diseases. Some patients with more serious conditions were instructed to make an appointment for a free hospital visit. 

At the end of the day, as the last patient went in to the ‘duka la dawa’ (drug store) to obtain their medicine, it began to rain.

Everyone was very tired but very happy about what they had accomplished that day.

There were emails exchanged, pictures taken…

 

... and then a mad dash to the bus.

This left only one very tired lady that came home with me.

Our special thanks to the staff of St. Mary’s Hospital, the seven wonderful nurses from America, the StoneHouse Family volunteers, our missionary friends and everyone who covered this project with prayer.

Please consider helping us at SMI continue to show the love of Christ and help the impoverished people of the Ponda Mali and Ronda slums with your tax-deductable gift. 

Much love …. The StoneHouse Family.